What Are the Most Common Causes of Workplace Fall Accidents?

 Posted on February 08, 2022 in Workers' Compensation

While there are multiple types of workplace accidents that occur on a daily basis, falls are some of the most common causes of injuries for workers. While these accidents can be especially serious for people in certain occupations, such as construction workers, they can affect employees in any industry. Fortunately, workers who are injured due to a fall that took place while they are working will usually qualify for workers’ compensation, even if they were responsible for their own injuries. By understanding the reasons that falls can occur in the workplace, workers can take the proper steps to avoid being injured while also ensuring that they will be able to receive benefits for any injuries that do occur.

Slips, Trips, and Other Types of Fall Accidents

While falls are more likely to be fatal for construction workers, since they may fall from a greater height and suffer more serious injuries, workers in other occupations are also at risk of being injured. These include people who work in healthcare, building cleaning and maintenance, transportation and delivery of goods and materials, and office workers. Some common causes of falls include:

• Wet or slippery floors - Liquids spilled on floors may lead to slip and fall accidents, and this can be an issue at hospitals or medical facilities, restaurants, or grocery stores. Wet floors can also be a safety hazard if a building does not use the proper floor mats at entrances to keep water from being tracked in from outside.

• Tripping hazards - Office workers may be affected by obstacles in hallways or other areas, such as extension cords, torn or wrinkled carpets, opened drawers on file cabinets, or boxes left in people’s normal walking paths. Tripping can also be a significant issue for warehouse workers or others who work in locations with cluttered walkways.

• Weather conditions - For those who work outdoors or who need to walk between a building and a vehicle during the day, issues such as snow and ice may create slipping hazards. Other issues that may lead to fall injuries when walking outdoors include potholes in parking lots, driveways, or streets or cracks in sidewalks.

• Unprotected edges - For construction workers or others who are working in buildings where construction is being performed, injuries may occur if the proper measures are not used to protect against falls to a lower level. These accidents may happen because of unprotected holes in roofs or floors, missing railings on stairways or balconies, or openings in the interior or exterior walls.

• Problems with safety equipment - During the construction of buildings or other structures, workers should be provided with safety equipment to prevent falls, such as harnesses, tethers, or nets. Serious or fatal fall injuries can occur if this equipment is not provided, if it is defective, or if workers are not trained in how to use it properly.

Contact Our Morgan Hill Workplace Fall Injury Attorneys

Workers who suffer injuries in workplace fall accidents will usually qualify for workers’ compensation, regardless of who was at fault. At Cramer + Martinez, we can provide representation for injured workers, helping them demonstrate that their injuries were work-related and making sure they receive the full medical benefits and disability benefits they deserve. Contact our San Benito County workers’ comp lawyers today at 408-848-1113 to set up a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/default.html

https://etraintoday.com/blog/slips-trips-falls-in-the-workplace-5-common-causes/